She made a little sound that was like a sob before she went on,
“I shall make – mistakes and perhaps you will be – ashamed of me – or else become – bored and that would be even worse than – losing you now.”
“I shall not be bored and you will not lose me,” the Earl said firmly. “I cannot think why you should feel that you would be upset or embarrassed by my friends or the Prince Regent for that matter.”
Salrina laughed, but there was a touch of fear in it.
“You – don’t understand. This is where I have lived – all my life. Look around you and you will see how very poor we have been. So poor that we have often been hungry. I have never been to parties or met smart people and I never had a decent gown to wear until you lent me one of your sister’s.”
She thought as she spoke that she was t
